The general public often puts so much into sports wether it be through them purchasing merchandise, tickets, or just simply following along their favorite athletes and teams. Sports would not be able to survive without this kind of interaction becasue of the sheer expense of having to put games on. I have spoken about this previously but I think that this aspect as well as many other is what makes sports so special.
Sports are able to create this sense of community unlike anything else. What helps this sense community grow even more is when you see the athletes that have been supported by the public so much that has put them in this position, then give back to the community that got them where they are. This is not a required aspect of sports but it is one that is always encouraging to see as it not only helps grow the game put it helps foster an inclusive and giving community.
While you may know a few athletes who have given back and took charge in a movement outside of their sport, many athletes giving goes unnoticed, and that is why I wanted to take time today to highlight a few.
The first organization that was started back in 2006 was actually created by a group of star-studded athletes. The organizations name is Athletes for Hope (AFH) and it was founded by Muhammad Ali, Warrick Dunn, Mia Hamm, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Jeff Gordon, Andre Agassi, and Alonzo Mourning, as well as many others. Athletes for Hope assists athletes in their philanthropy efforts as well as promoting equity, inclusion, and diversity for all. AFH is an accredited 501(c)(3) organization has several recognized partners such as ESPN, Nuna, and The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.
From top to bottom AFH works with former and current athletes to recognize and assist their local community organization’s. AFH as a whole has several athletes on their advisory board and many of which are even Olympic gold medalists. I personally think that AFH is a perfect example of how athletes can take their name and likeness and use to better the community’s around them.
The other organization that I wanted to highlight is one that is not as star-studded but is still able to create the same effect as AFH, and that organization is Team IMPACT. After recognizing the sever impact that childhood illness has on the mental health of children long term. Team IMPACTs mission is to provide safety and support to children facing sever illness by partnering them up with college athletic teams to both alleviate the emotional toll that the illnesses take on the children. As well, it helps those on the teams be able to get involved in their community and rally around a child to take them beyond the game.
Both of these nonprofit organizations are set u to facilitate this connection between athletes and a social cause. In the case of AFH they are able to reach several causes of the athletes choosing. Whereas, Team IMPACT is more selective to helping just children with sever illnesses. None the less both have the same overarching themes and set out to not only help others but to grow sports communities beyond the playing fields.